Insulation



G. P. McDONNELL. FLUlD ACTUATED cmcun CONTROLLER.

APPLICRTION FILED Och I0. 1918. 1 28,645. PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C 5 6 mwwmn m 5 Geo. F. W"- Donne,

G. P. McDONNELL. FLUID ACTUATD cmcun CONTROLLER.

APPLICAUON FILED OCi. 10, I918.

- PatenwdSept. 12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

III

660. F. WDormeM Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES GEORGE PoHdDONNELL, OF ST. LOUIS,

FIaUID-LC'IUA TED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application sitcoms" 10, may Serial Ho. 257,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. McDon- NELL, a citizen of the United States of Americe, 9. iesident of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Actuated Circuit Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact-description, reference tieing had to the accompan g drawings, forming a part of this speci cation.

This invention relates to alarms for automatic sprinkler. systems, and more particularly to an electric alarm-controlling device adapted to control either an electric or a mechanical alarm. By the term alarm as herein used, I mean to include a signaling device or indicatorof any kind servin as a warning in case of flowage of water ue to an open sprinkle'r'head, and, if desired, the alarm may indicate the. approximate location of the open sprinkler head. I

' Another of the objects of the invention is to provide a ve simple and inex nsive means for contro ing the alarm or in icator. A further object is to produce a device of this kind in the form of a simple attachment adapted to be easily applied to a sprinkler system.

Another object is to provide a p and reliable alarm controlling device not affected by a change of pressure in the system and not resIponse to a slight flowage of the water.

urther objects are to avoid the necessity of frequent tests by using a closed electric circuit 'for the control of the alarm, and to automatically reset the controlling switch upon stoppage of the'flow of water.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention comprises novel construction, combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter more speci fically describe and illustrated in the mom anying drawings wherein is shown the pre erred embodiment of the invention; however, it is to be understood that the changes,

invention comprehends variations and modifications which. come within the scope of the claims hereunto ap nded.

ig. I is a dia rammatical view of a system embodying eatures of this invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged section illustrating one of the controlling switches mounted in a fluid conductor.

Fig. III is a vertical section on the line III-III, Fig. II.

tails of the automatic switches in liable to give atalse alarm in Fig. IV is a view similar to Fi II,.il1us-' trating a modification, and also s owingthe indicator under the control of the switch.

The sprinkler system shown diagrammatically in Fig. I comprises a riser 1 provided with branches 2, 2', .3 and 3. 4 designates automatic sprinkler i the branches. The devices forming the subject matter of the present invention may be used in either a dry pipe system or a wet pipe system, and the system Figs. I, II and III may be considered as a wet. pipe system wherein the riser and its horizontal branches are constantly, filled with water under pressure. The branches 2 and 3 lie in different horizontal planes and they may be installed in different floors of a building. When a flow of water is started, due to an open sprinkler headya fire alarm -.will be actuated, and an indicator will be branch pipes 3 and 3, and B desi heads located in illustrated by similar device associated with the branch pipes 2 and 2'.

the'fiuid I will describe thede conducting ipes, fi

e re

vices. contro ed by said switches. alarm C (Fig. I) may remote from the sprinkler-system, for example, at a central station, or at the head quarters of a fire department, and this alarm is actuated through the medium of a normally open electric circuit including com ductors 5 and 6, the conductor 6 being Before describing the debe located at a point vided with a battery 7, or other suitable I source of electrical energy, and the conductor 5 being provided wit manually operated switch 8. Each oi the devices A and B includes a mercury cup 9 electrically connected to the conductor 6, and a combined indicator and switch member 10 electricall connected to the-conductor 5. Each of t e members' 10 maybe considered as the shutter of a drop-annunciator, and it is normally held in the position shown by means of an electro-magnet 11. Each member 10 is pivotall supported at its lower edge, and when the ajacent electro-magnet is deenergized, the member 10 will drop as indicated by arrows so as to contact with the mercury in one of the cups 9, thereby completing the fire alarm circuit. If the alarm results from an open sprinkler head in a normally closed ductor 13 14 and a battery 15. When one of these cirshown at 17 in provided with an insulatin branch pipe 3 or 3', the device A will be actuated, thus, indicating the approximate location of the open sprinkler head, and at the same timeclosin thefire alarm circuit.

In a similar manner, the device B ma be actuated to give the fire alarm and to indicate that the fire is on the floor wherein the branch pipes 2 and 2' are installed.

Each of the :normally' ener ized electromagnets 11 is in a normally osed electric circuit inclu a conductor 12 and a conprovlded. with a testing switch cults is opened, the combined switchand indicat' member 10 associated therewith will drop from the electro-magnet and cooperate with a mercury cup 9 to close the alarm circuit. To accomplish the desired. result, each 'of thenormally closed alarm-controlling circuits also includes at least one automatic switch controlled by the preferably includes two of the automatic switches connected together in, series, as will be hereinafter described. To provide forthe installation of the automatic switches, the branch conductors may be provided with ipe'couplings- 16, each of S8.l(1 00liPlln being threaded, as ig I, to receive a metal plug 18. Each of'theautomatic switches is secured to one of the metal-plugs 18, and it can be applied to. the system by merely screwing t e' lug 1 8 into' a con lin 16. Each metal p ug 18 (Figs. II an I is core 19 havin a collar 20 which lies direct y above a shou der 21 formed in the plug. "To secure the insulating core, a bushing 22 is screwed into the plug,- and the collar 20 lies directly between the inner end of'this bushing and the-shoulder 21. To form afl'uid tight seal around the'core, gaskets 23 are preferably arranged on (fippositesides of the collar 20, as shown in ig. II. Obviously, the bushing 22-can be easily tightened to firmly se-' cure the core in the plug, and it can be easily removed to permit the removal of the core. Each of the automatic switches includes a conductor 24 passing through the insulating core 19 and terminating in a contact member 25 which lies within the coupling 16 through which the water or other fluid is conducted. A movable contact wing 26 normally engages the contact member 25, said wing 26being pivotally su ported by a pin 27 extending from the hea of a metal screw 28, the latter-"being mounted in the metal plug 18. The contact wing 26 is thus mechanically and electrically connected to the metal plug 18, andthe latter is electrically connected to the metal pipes through which the lilguid is conducted. A retaining spring 29 ig. II) forms an electrical connection between the spring yield- By referring to Fig. II, it will be observed that the automatic switch members are arranged within the system and exposed directl to the fluid therein, and that the pivote contact member 26 will moveto its open position in response to the flow of the fluid. Under normal conditions, the spring 29 retains the pivoted contact member in engagement wit the fixed contact member, thereby serving as a retardingelement to prevent the switch from being opened in response to a slight movement of the fluid in the system. However, when a sprinkler head is open, the fluid rushes quickly in the direction indicated by the straight arrows in Fig. II, thereby overcoming the spring 29 and moving the contact member 26 to its open 'position, as indicated by the curved arrows. The switch is thus opened, and the pivoted contact member 26 is displaced to an approximately wherein it does not materially obstruct the fluid flowing to the open sprinkler head. When the flow'ceases, the movable contact member 29 will automatically return-to the position shown Fig. II, thereby resetting the automatic switch. It may also be ob served that the-pivoted contact member 26 i does not completely close the fluid passageway, and that the fluid can move slowly contact member.

Ihave previousl stated that each of the normally closed a arm controlling circuits preferably includes a plurality of the automatic switches, connected together in series, so that the openin of any' one of, the switches will open t e circuit, and thereby give the alarm. By-comparing Fi I and II, it will be readily seen that eac of the branch pipes 2, 2', 3 and 3' is provided with one of the switch containing couplings 16, and that each of the conductors 12-13 is connected to a conductor 24 which terminates in a fixed contact member 25, forming part of an automatic switch. Each of the pivoted switch members 26 is electrically connected to the metal pi es through which the water is conducted. herefore, the electric current flowing through the electi'o-magnet 11 of the device A (Fi I) is conducted through the normally closed automatic switch in the branch 3, also through the metal piping whereby the branches 3 and 3' are connected, and throu h the automatic switch in the branch 3'. T e last mentioned switches are thus connected together in series, and if one of the switches is opened, the magnet 11 of the device A will be deenergized to release horizontal position,

- across the water switch device is connected.

magnet 31, the shutter to the metal When the switch occupies its open position, both of the submerged switch members are'exp' to the water in the system, and it may appear that thewater would form an effective electrical connection between the open switch members;- However, the resist anoe of the water is so great, that only a very weak and ineffective current will flow between the open switch members. This current will have no material effect on the electromagnet in the 0 n circuit.

Ihe modification shown in Fig. IV comprises a pivotally mounted switch member 26 located in a pipe cou ling I6 through which fluid is conducte a fixed contact member 25' passing through an insulator 19', and a metal plug 18 to which the entire The pivoted contact member 26 is electrically connected ipes through which fluid is conducted, an the pipes are'connected by means of a conductor 30 to an electro-mag net 31. The contact member 25 is connected to the electro-magnet through the medium of conductors 3233 and an electric battery 34. The electro-magnet 31 forms part of a drop annunciator including a pivoted shutter 33 and an armature 34 having an extension 35 which normally holds the shutter 33 in its elevated position.

34 is attracted to the 33 drops by gravity, as is well understood in this art.

Iri this modification, the circuit is normally open, and it is closed by a flow of fluid in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. IV. The fluid forces contact member 26 into engagement with contact member 25', thusclosing the automatic switch and permitting the electric current to flow through the magnet 31.

I claim:

1. In a fluid actuated circuit controller, a fluid conductor and a switch comprising contact members arranged within the fluid conductor and exposed to the fluid therein, one of said contact members being movable in response to the flow of the fluid to which itis exposed, a metal plug to which the movable contact member is pivotally and elec- 'hen the armature an aperture in a fluid con trically connected, an insulator whereby the other contact member is insulated from said metal plug, said insulator being detachably mounted in said metal plug and said plug being detachably mounted in said fluid conductor, and a retarding spring whereby said movable contact member is yieldingly retained in engagement with the other contact DIED her so as to normally retain the alarmconu-olling circuit in its closed condition.

2. In a fluid actuated circuit "controller, a fluid conductor having a threaded opening in its wall, a removable closure in said opening, said closure comprising an-externally threaded plu engageable with the internal threads of the opening, a switch on said closure, said switch comprising a pair of contact members arranged within the conin, one of said contact members being stationary, the other of said contact members being pivotally secured to said plug so as to be movable relative to said stationary contact member and actuated by the fluid flowmg through said fluid conductor, an insulator for insulating said stationary contact member from the threaded plug and conductor, said closure having an aperture through which said insulator extends, and mleans for securing said insulator in said P 3. In combination a fluid conduit provided with an aperture and a closure for said aperture, said closure comprising an annular collar, a plate formed contact member attached to said collar and free to be moved by the fluid, and another contact element coaxial of and insulated from said collar, said contacts being so disposed as to be immersed in the fluid when said closure is applied to said aperture.

A fluid actuated circuit controller comprising an annular collar ada ted to enter uit, a plate formed conductor pivotally mounted on said collar, a core of insulating material positioned in said collar, and a conductor passmg through said core and projecting therefrom to a osition adjacent to the first conductor, sai contacts being so disposed as to be immersed in the fluid when said closure is applied to said aperture.

In testimony that I claim hereunto affix my signature.

GEORG P. MQDONNELL.

the foregoing I 

